For men and women, the DHEA (D) Panel provides a basic evaluation of the DHEA level.

The DHEA (D) Panel will assess:
• DHEA

Billing Note: Hormone panels include a brief consultation, both before sending you the testing materials, and after the results are received. Your credit card will not be charged until you are contacted for the initial consultation regading the test, and the test kit will be sent to you at that time.

Saliva testing is an easy and noninvasive way of assessing your hormone status.This can help you focus your personal supplement program, and provide a more informed basis for working with your doctor or other health care provider. Hormones are often neglected, but are a significant part of your health and wellbeing, and saliva testing is proving to be the most reliable medium for measuring hormone levels.

Appreciating the reliability of saliva testing is based on understanding the difference between steroid hormones in saliva and in serum. This difference is based on whether or not the hormones are bound to proteins in the medium used for testing. The majority of hormones exist in one of two forms: free (5%) or protein bound (95%). It is only the free hormones that are biologically active, or bio-available, and available for delivery to receptors in the body. Those which are protein bound do not fit the receptors and are considered non-bioavailable. When blood is filtered through the salivary glands, the bound hormone components are too large to pass through the cell membranes. Only the unbound hormones pass through and into the saliva. What is measured in the saliva is the bioavailable hormone, the clinically relevant portion which will be delivered to the receptors in the tissues of the body.

Salivary hormone levels are expected to be much lower than serum levels, as only the unbound hormones are being measured. When healthcare providers measure serum hormone levels and prescribe hormone replacement therapy based on those results, patients are often overdosed. If the patients are then tested using saliva, the results are extraordinarily high, and confusion results from a lack of correlation between the two methods.

This discrepancy becomes especially important when monitoring topical, or transdermal, hormone therapy. Studies show that this method of delivery results in increased tissue hormone levels (thus measurable in saliva), but no parallel increase in serum levels. Therefore, serum testing cannot be used to monitor topical hormone therapy.

Saliva Measures the "Unbound" Biologically Active or Free Hormone Levels in the Body:
When blood is filtered through the salivary glands, the bound hormone components are too large to pass through the cell membranes of the salivary glands. Only the unbound hormones pass through and into the saliva. What is measured in the saliva is considered the "free", or bioavailable hormone, that which will be delivered to the receptors in the tissues of the body.

Serum Measures the "Protein Bound" Biologically Inactive Hormone Levels in the Body:In order for steroid hormones to be detected in serum, they must be bound to circulating proteins. In this bound state, they are unable to fit into receptors in the body, and therefore will not be delivered to tissues. They are considered inactive, or non-bioavailable.

If you are already using hormones: Only Saliva Testing Measures Topically Dosed Hormones:The discrepancy between free and protein bound hormones becomes especially important when monitoring topical, or transdermal, hormone therapy. Studies show that this method of delivery results in increased tissue hormone levels (thus measurable in saliva), but no parallel increase in serum levels. Therefore, serum testing cannot be used to monitor topical hormone therapy.

About Labrix:

Labrix was founded by clinicians Jay H Mead MD, FASCP and Erin T Lommen ND with the goal of raising the bar on quality hormone testing. Dr. Mead‘s 25 years in laboratory medicine, plus the doctors combined 40 plus years in clinical practice, Labrix founders were well positioned to achieve their goal. In the years that followed, Labrix has become recognized for setting a new standard for saliva testing in accuracy, reliability and turnaround times. Building on their clinical experience both Dr. Mead and Dr. Lommen are recognized experts in their field, presenting frequently at medical conferences throughout the US, Mexico and Canada, where they blend their deep clinical knowledge with a fierce passion for sound scientific practices.

Labrix was founded to address the clinician's need for precision and reliability and the scientist's demand for quality and integrity. Labrix is a CLIA registered laboratory and is also certified to test in the State of New York. This hard to achieve certification is a gold seal of approval on the quality and reproducibility of Labrix's testing results. Labrix Clinical Services, Inc. is headquartered in the Pacific Northwest and uses state-of-the-art saliva hormone testing techniques.

A brief overview of the hormones tested by Labrix, and not all test panels test all five hormones listed here. (See individual tests for more information.)

The Major Hormones:

The major sex hormones to assess are estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. Estrone and estriol are also important sex hormones to consider testing. The main adrenal hormones are DHEA and cortisol. These seven hormones will provide crucial information about deficiencies, excesses and daily patterns, which then result in a specifically tailored treatment approach and one far more beneficial than the old "shotgun" approach. Below is a brief description of each of these hormones:

Estrogens:There are three forms made by the body: estrone, estradiol and estriol. The form used in past hormone replacement therapies is estradiol, often in the form of concentrated pregnant mare's urine (premarin). It is a proliferative (causes growth) hormone that grows the lining of the uterus. The other major protector in keeping estradiol from running amok is progesterone. Estrone and Estriol are also useful hormones to test.

Testosterone:
An anabolic hormone (builds tissue) that is essential for men and women. The proper level of testosterone is necessary for bone health, muscle strength, stamina, sex drive and performance, heart function and mental focus.

A Comprehensive View of Adrenal Function:

DHEA:
An important adrenal gland hormone, which is essential for energy production and blood sugar balance. DHEA is a precursor to other hormones, mainly testosterone.

Cortisol:
Your waking day hormone (highest in the morning and lowest at night). It is necessary for energy production, blood sugar metabolism, anti-inflammatory effects and stress response.

Some of the common imbalances identified through testing include estrogen dominance, estrogen deficiency, progesterone deficiency, androgen (testosterone and DHEA) excess or deficiencies, adrenal dysfunction and adrenal fatigue.

Beachwood Canyon, Naturally, Ltd. Web Site: Statements presented on this website are for educational purposes only. The product information provided on this web site is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and/or advice. Selected research abstracts are presented as representative of the literature and are not presented as an exhaustive literature review of ingredients or products presented by Beachwood Canyon, Naturally, Ltd. If you have a medical condition, consult your physician before starting any supplements.

* Statements contained on this web site, in its entirety, have not been evaluated or reviewed by the FDA (unless otherwise noted) and neither the information presented nor the products offered are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.